Pain management focus of retreat

September 21, 2007|From staff reports

If you live with pain, you're not alone. Maybe you suffer from acute pain caused by an injury, illness or recent surgery. Acute pain usually disappears when the underlying cause is treated or has healed. Or maybe you suffer from chronic pain. At least 34 million Americans suffer from chronic pain from arthritis, low back problems, neuralgia, migraine headache or other causes. Some 15 million working Americans have pain on a chronic basis. Chronic pain lasts for six months or more - and could last forever. Pain management techniques can stop the vicious cycle of pain. No matter what type of pain you suffer from, it's important to learn the most effective way to relieve or manage it. At Avera St. Luke's Pain Management Center, “dedicated staff work specifically at evaluating and treating pain,” according to an Avera news release. Dr. Heloise Westbrook is director of the center, which treats patients experiencing acute or any kind of chronic, persistent pain as a result of disease or injury. “Our goals are to provide patients with a thorough evaluation, determine the cause of their pain, design and implement personalized treatment plans, increase a patient's quality of life, decrease the frequency and intensity of pain, and reduce the utilization of health care resources,” Westbrook said. Retreat planned: The Pain Management Center will be hosting its sixth annual Mid-West Pain Management Symposium Retreat next Thursday through Sept. 29 at the Ramkota Hotel, 1400 Eighth Ave. N.W., with “renowned speakers from throughout the nation sharing their expertise with health care professionals,” according to Avera. “It's important to understand that pain is a medical condition that can and should be treated,” according to the release. “Today, there are more options for pain management, with advanced pain therapies such as spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal drug delivery, a pain-control pump that delivers medication to the space surrounding the spinal cord. But unlike other medical conditions, the doctor can't see or detect your pain. This is why it's up to you to tell your doctor you're in pain and to describe your pain as clearly and specifically as possible. And, ultimately, it's up to you to ask for medical help. “Pain is a complex condition that can affect people in several ways. Besides making your body hurt, pain can 'hurt' your overall health and emotional well-being. It can make you feel isolated, anxious, or depressed. Pain can also stop you from doing things you enjoy, affect your ability to work, and keep you from sleeping well or eating right. Pain can even interfere with your relationships with family and friends. But help is available,” according to the release. The center, which is located on the second floor of Avera Dakota Medical Square at 815 First Ave. S.E., may be reached at (605) 622-5123 or 1-800-225-8537, ext. 5123.